Rubbermaid division moves south of the border

Published: February 1, 2000 12:00AM

During a meeting of first- and third-shift compression molding workers at Newell-Rubbermaid this morning, the company announced it was spending $4 million to relocate the department to its facility near Mexico City.

Kerri Butler Halloran, Newell-Rubbermaid's director of marketing and communications, said the company plans on moving the first pieces of equipment in June. The move should be completed by the end of this year.

Halloran said Newell-Rubbermaid plans to spend $10.4 million to convert the compression molding area to a distribution center.

"This is strictly a business decision," Halloran said. "This is strictly a way to find more space here.

"We want to add 20 new dock doors, and renovate 120,000 square feet into a shipping center. It's a $10.4 million investment in this facility here in Wooster."

Halloran said none of the 188 people who work in compression molding will lose their jobs. They will be farmed out to other departments once the move begins.

"This isn't even going to happen until June," she said. "As jobs become open, the people in CM have the option to bid on different jobs as people retire and leave."

A call was made to the compression molding department, but no one answered. A switchboard operator said the department was not answering calls this morning.

United Steelworkers America Local 302 did not return a call seeking comment.

Frank Beeson, president of the Wayne Development Council, said the announcement caught him off guard.

"Because I don't know anything about it, I'm not sure I can comment," Beeson said. "I was told just last week they were planning expansion efforts here. That's kind of completely on the other side. I have not heard a word."